Car electronic key, data processor and car management method

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of managing vehicles such as rental cars. Actual drive data about an applicable vehicle 4 A are acquired through an electronic key 2 A for operating the door locks of the vehicle 4 A.

1 . A vehicle which at least unlocks doors thereof in response to a remote control signal coming from an applicable electronic key, said vehicle comprising transmitting means for transmitting actual drive data about said vehicle to said applicable electronic key in such a manner that said actual drive data can be downloaded to an applicable data processing apparatus via said applicable electronic key.  
     
     
         2 . An electronic key for operating door locks of an applicable vehicle by use of a remote control signal, said electronic key comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving actual drive data from said applicable vehicle;    recording means for recording said actual drive data; and    transmitting means for transmitting to a data processing apparatus said actual drive data recorded by said recording means.    
     
     
         3 . A data processing apparatus comprising: 
 data acquiring means for receiving actual drive data about an applicable vehicle together with data for identifying said applicable vehicle, from an electronic key for operating door locks of said applicable vehicle by use of a remote control signal, so as to acquire said actual drive data from said applicable vehicle via said electronic key; and    data processing means for processing said actual drive data.    
     
     
         4 . A vehicle managing method comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring actual drive data about an applicable vehicle via an electronic key for operating door locks of said applicable vehicle; and    processing said actual drive data acquired in said acquiring step.    
     
     
         5 . A vehicle managing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said applicable vehicle is a rental car, and wherein said processing step involves calculating rental charges of said applicable vehicle based on said actual drive data.  
     
     
         6 . A vehicle managing method according to  claim 4 , wherein said processing step involves calculating an insurance premium for said applicable vehicle based on said actual drive data.